GPI libraries for parasite biology to explore how parasites build their outer surfaces
Official title: Parasite glycosylphosphatidylinositol Libraries: Expanding the Toolbox for Parasite Glycobiology
Funded at University of Georgia · NIH-11442147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small project will create and test a library of parasite glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) pieces to help scientists study how parasites attach proteins to their surface and interact with the immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $228,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202814-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Researchers and labs studying parasite biology and infectious diseases; no direct patient enrollment.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this early tool-development project.
What this research studies
This grant aims to develop an enzymatic pipeline to synthesize parasite GPI anchors and create modular libraries for research. The work will expand tools for studying how GPIs influence parasite biology, host invasion, and immune responses. Researchers will produce defined GPI intermediates and glycoconjugates to enable experiments in parasite glycobiology at the University of Georgia. The project is designed to be a flexible platform for scientists to probe parasite-specific GPI modifications and their roles in disease processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit indirectly through accelerated discovery of antiparasitic strategies and vaccines.
How similar studies have gone: Prior efforts in parasite glycobiology show that defined GPI structures aid understanding of host-parasite interactions, though this library approach is an expansion.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Georgia
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramirez, Ana Silvia — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Ramirez, Ana Silvia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.